Overview
Release Date: 7/29/2021
Starting Serial Number: 20008
SwitchBlade-Elite 2.1 is now available for general use. This minor update improves user experience, resolves issues with geotag logging on units with optional mapping payloads, allows for better flight performance, and enables easier pilot camera and/or RTK integration.
What’s New
- Vision Aerial Flight Deck 1.0 mission planning software release provides a better user experience by surfacing important controls and hiding non-essential parameters. (See Vision Aerial Flight Deck 1.0 Release Notes)
- Vision Aerial Mapper 1.0 (if equipped) fixes known issues with geotag logging on images, is more reliable, and user-friendly.
- H7 Orange Cube provides a faster processor and replaces the discontinued Black Cube (more info).
- More robust electrical payload connections on the airframe allows payloads to be easily swapped.
- Here3 is RTK ready out of the box, more water-resistant, and has additional IMU sensors. Read more here.
- Units are now pre-wired for FPV Pilot Camera integration.
- Headlight & tail light upgraded with ultra-high output LEDs for even better daytime visibility.
- More user-friendly, damage tolerant, and robust high capacity AC battery charger.
How to Upgrade Your Unit
Contact Vision Aerial’s Service Department at (406) 518-1302 or email [email protected] to schedule an upgrade. The cost for an upgrade is $1130 and takes 2 weeks, depending on the production schedule. Units with Blue Cubes are $350 more. Optional geotag loggers incur an additional $365 to upgrade each mapping payload.
Top Resolved Issues
- (Optional equipment) Geotag logger did not trigger consistently and sometimes missed images.
- (Optional equipment) Geotag logger will not become bricked during normal use.
- (Optional equipment) Geotag logger. CLD (Camera, Logger, Drone) power down sequence is no longer needed.
- (Optional equipment) Geotag logger no longer requires the camera to be turned off and on between cycles for mapping.
- (Optional equipment) Geotag logger now works with any Pixhawk compatible GPS.
- Number of exposed wires has been reduced and connectors are now protected from wire fatigue.
- Users no longer need to send airframes to Vision Aerial to incorporate RTK or FPV.
- Tail wag over time due to tail mechanism ball links has been eliminated.
Open Issues
- The airframe should not be powered on in the stowed position. Powering on the airframe will cause the landing gear to extend (on models with powered retracts).
General Advisories
- (Optional equipment) WIRIS Pro payloads require a specific startup procedure. 1) Power on the Herelink Ground Control Station.
2) Launch the Flight Deck app.
3) Power on the drone by connecting the battery.